[For Intermediate Players] Challenge Yourself! Recommended Masterpieces That Shine at Piano Recitals

Fantaisie-ImpromptuFrederic Chopin

Fantaisie-Impromptu – Chopin – 13-year-old recital / Chopin Fantaisie-Impromptu

This is a work by Frédéric Chopin that shifts from a stormy, passionate passage to a dreamily sweet and beautiful melody.

Its dramatic development is sure to resonate with elementary and middle school children who admire a more mature world.

Composed around 1834, it is also known for its luscious middle section, which was used as a principal theme in the film Impromptu.

The passages where the right and left hands play different rhythms simultaneously require practice, but the sense of accomplishment when mastered is exceptional.

It’s a rewarding piece for children who want to enrich their expressiveness and aim for a higher level of performance.

If played with rich emotion at a recital, it will surely capture the audience’s hearts.

Six Pieces, Op. 51: No. 6, “Valse Sentimentale”Pyotr Tchaikovsky

Tchaikovsky – Valse Sentimentale

The sixth piece from Piotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s Six Pieces, Op.

51, a set of six piano miniatures.

True to its title, “Valse Sentimentale,” it features a poignant, bittersweet melody.

It begins at a relaxed tempo, with a more cheerful passage appearing in the middle section.

This piece demands expressive, nuanced playing.

Practice the left-hand leaps carefully so you can firmly grasp the chords.

Rich with Tchaikovsky’s delicate emotional expression throughout, it’s a masterpiece that would be wonderful to present on a recital stage.

Two Rhapsodies, Op. 79 No. 2Johannes Brahms

Brahms: Two Rhapsodies, Op. 79 – No. 2 in G minor / Piano: Riyoko Iida

Here’s a piece I highly recommend for intermediate players aiming to become advanced: “Two Rhapsodies, Op.

79 No.

2.” It’s not really suitable for beginners, but for intermediate players it’s relatively low in difficulty while offering plenty of valuable experience.

No.

2 is easier to perform than No.

1, and if you can firmly grasp the chords and octaves, it will sound very impressive.

There’s not much to read in the score and the finger turns are simple, so if you’ve just moved from beginner to intermediate, be sure to check it out.

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Prelude in G minor, Op. 23 No. 5Sergei Rakhmaninov

Rachmaninoff – Prelude in G Minor Op. 23 No. 5

One of the pieces from Sergei Rachmaninoff’s Ten Preludes, published in 1903.

Composed in 1901, this piece is also affectionately known as the “Prelude-March.” Rich with Russian national sentiment, it begins at a march-like tempo and gradually grows more heroic.

The middle section features Rachmaninoff’s characteristically romantic melody.

Technically, it includes large chords, wide-ranging arpeggios, and rapid repeated octaves, making it a challenging work for pianists with smaller hands.

“Butterflies,” Op. 2, No. 12: “Final Scene and the Returning Brothers”Robert Schumann

Schumann. Papillons Op. 2 nº 12. Finale. Partitura e Interpretación

The twelfth piece, the finale of Robert Schumann’s Op.

2 Papillons, is an elegant miniature depicting the end of a masquerade ball.

Published in 1831, it delicately portrays the ball’s conclusion and the participants’ journey home.

Light yet sentimental in atmosphere, it is notable for its quotation of the traditional “Grandfather’s Dance” melody.

In the closing measures, the sound gradually fades, evoking the image of the ballroom lights being extinguished one by one.

This piece is recommended for pianists who have mastered the basics and wish to explore the rich expressiveness of the Romantic era.

Savor Schumann’s poetic world while cherishing the music’s narrative quality.

18 Characteristic Etudes, Op. 109 No. 13 “The Great Thunderstorm”Johann Burgmüller

[Piano Recital Recommendation] The Thunderstorm ♫ Burgmüller / Orage, Burgmüller

Known as one of the 18 Characteristic Studies, Op.

109, this piece captures listeners with Johann Burgmüller’s vivid depiction of a storm.

Written in D minor, it begins with raging turmoil and sonically portrays the drama of nature—the wind and rain growing stronger, and lightning flashing in measure 14.

It is packed with technical elements as well, such as sixteenth-note rests on the beat and octave tremolos representing thunder.

Be sure to bring this masterpiece—left to us by Burgmüller, who passed away in Paris in 1874—to the recital stage.

It’s certain to leave a powerful impression on every listener.

ToccataAram Khachaturian

Mariam Kharatyan: Toccata by Khachaturian in Grieg Competition 2016

Aram Khachaturian is a composer from Armenia, well known for Sabre Dance and Gayane.

Written in 1932 while he was studying at the Moscow Conservatory, this piece is a vibrant work that weaves in Armenian folk rhythms and techniques of modern music.

Dynamic and powerful yet imbued with delicacy, it’s a piece that will spark your spirit of challenge and stoke your motivation at the piano.

Why not pursue your own musical expression by employing strong finger action and a flexible wrist?